Northwest China's Qinghai Province will implement a five-year grassland rehabilitation scheme starting from this year in an effort to "provide a rest" for 1.03 million hectares of degenerate grassland, the provincial government announced Wednesday.

The targeted grassland covers two Tibetan prefectures, Yushu and Golog.

Under the scheme, 372,000 hectares of grassland have been blocked off for the indefinite future, and restrictions have been placed on grazing in the remaining grassland.

The government will invest 314.67 million yuan (about US$37.91 million) in the scheme to build enclosures and provide subsidies to local residents.

A total of 27,679 local residents will be relocated or shifted to other environmentally-friendly commercial activities.

The two prefectures are located at the headstreams of three major rivers in China, the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancangjiang River.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)